Optimism high as hundreds attend job fair

Jess Mac of Dandan village woke up early on Wednesday, determined to find a job that would help him provide for his family, particularly his ailing mother.

“I just want a decent job,” said Mac. “Maybe I can have a new kind of job, different from my previous job,” said the 33-year-old jobseeker, who has had prior work experience driving heavy equipment.

A former greens keeper in Guam, Mac was among the hundreds of jobless U.S. workers who attended the job fair hosted by the CNMI Department of Labor. A total of 27 employers-both private businesses and government agencies-accepted applications for jobs ranging from technicians and housekeepers to engineers and managers at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe yesterday.

Mac, who moved back to Saipan after being jobless in Guam for two years, is optimistic that the fair will pave the way for his next job. “This event is a good opportunity for job applicants like me,” he added.

Like Mac, other hopefuls lined up as early as 8am to complete application forms or submit their résumés to prospective employers.

Ruth Shorey Tenorio, 20, arrived from Pohnpei in 2010 with a goal to finish school. Unable to meet that goal, Tenorio is now looking for a job as a cashier or housekeeper in stores and hotels.

“I need to work because I’m staying with my husband and we want to have enough to support ourselves and our families,” said Tenorio, who worked as a cashier and a babysitter back in Pohnpei.

Her husband, Melchor Tenorio, said it’s been a month since he last had a job. He used to work with Herman’s Bakery.

“I am looking to apply for a job as a warehouse stocker,” said Tenorio, 21, who submitted application forms to Fiesta Resort and Spa, Joeten, and KFC, among others.

While yesterday’s crowd saw job seekers of different ages, a large number were young U.S. workers keen to obtain work experience at an early age as they, too, have been badly affected by the continuing economic decline.

Kimberly Magofna, 18, just graduated from Kagman High School and is awaiting phone calls and interview appointments. In the meantime, she keeps submitting application forms.

“It [doesn’t] matter what kind of job. I just want to gain more work experience,” said the Tanapag resident who was once employed at the Chacha Ocean View Jr. High School doing administrative work.

Eighteen-year-old Jamilice Camacho said she is prepared to juggle her time as a freshman student taking up Elementary Education at the Northern Marianas College while taking a part-time job.

“I’ve been looking for a part-time job for four months now and it’s been difficult because there’s a lot of people like me that are looking for jobs,” said Camacho, who came to the venue with her mom and a friend.

Camacho, a Chalan Kanoa resident, said she is “pretty positive” that she will be hired. “It’s better to be confident and just be hopeful,” she added.

CNMI Center for Living Independently director Lydia D. Igitol, who came to the job fair to assist two of their consumers find a job, said the event is an “opportunity the island never had,” particularly for the youth.

“Seeing the youth here gives me great hope that people would recognize that there is a need for employment among U.S. workers. Here you can see the actual demand,” she told Saipan Tribune.

Igitol added that having even just some of people with disabilities hired through these job fairs would give hope to others. “They just need encouragement,” she said.

Fiesta Resort and Spa Human Resource manager Lupe Flores said the job fair is a “good venue” to look for qualified U.S. workers who can fill their 40 advertised positions.

“We’re trying to reach out to all qualified U.S. workers. That’s our objective,” said Flores, who also noted that they will start scheduling interviews by next week.

As the Nov. 27 deadline for foreign workers draws near, Saipan Ice & Water Co. human resource staffer Maxima Lisua said that while their company will keep workers in skilled positions such as electricians and accountants, they are looking for U.S. workers to fill their anticipated vacancies for production and delivery staff.

“It’s a good event and I’m hopeful that we can find workers who are devoted and would come to work every day,” said Lisua, adding that they will begin with their selection and interview process next week.

Hafa Adai Beach Hotel HR manager Juan I. Tenorio said their company is now interviewing applicants that applied for the 48 positions they announced during the Department of Commerce-sponsored job expo last month.

They only set up a booth at yesterday’s job fair to inform job applicants about the duties and responsibilities of the positions they want to apply for as well as company expectations and standard, he said.

“The more we educate applicants, the more empowerment we can give to them so they can do what they need to do to prepare themselves to be in the job market,” added Tenorio.

Labor Secretary Gil San Nicolas thanked all participants for the “good turnout.” He emphasized that the event is a partnership between the government and the private sector.

San Nicolas encouraged U.S. workers not to give up. “Continue to search for the job you’re interested in. Continue to follow up with those companies that you have applied with.”

Washington delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan, who was also at the job fair, commended the Department of Labor “for a very successful event.”